The sure thing is that when Olbermann is on his game, he’s hard to beat. The guy can be the biggest blow hard to ever suck wind, but he rarely buckles when he has a good point to make. The Sochi Olympics are turning out to be an epic mess and we should put it in the bin provided.

@Beau, press is praising Mr. Putin, no surprises on that front. We have only one (!!!) newspaper which is opposing current government and it’s constantly oppressed. and ONE (!!!) TV channel that is giving the real picture, but i think it will be shut down soon or forced to go on-line only due to its “anti-government” course and ideology. so basically european and american TV is the best source for news on my own country now, haha

yeah but the stuff actual Russian’s are pissed about is not this petty bullshit no one should even blink an eyelid to, but the fact that only like 30 billion (thats being generous) of the 50 put into the games went straight into sochi.

Yuri- you have my sincerest sympathy. I’ve read a few of these stories the past 3 days now and between these and watching the two girls from Pussy Riot on Colbert, it seems that Russia is in sad shape. I feel bad for the good people of Russia that have to endure this kind of oppression and worldwide embarrassment because of a president that is a megalomaniac and corruption that is running rampant.

What is this classified as, an unfunny comedian? or terrible news reporting? I didn’t think this until now, but wow America is so arrogant! Such a petty country and it has only become more evident since Obama hadn’t got his way.
Not at all related, but indicative of this, is your extradition policy. Knoxx is a citizen, Snowden is a traitor.
The only thing boycott worthy is the anti-homosexual law, but since I don’t see any anger towards Qatar and it’s world cup, is it somewhat possible that America and Europe are still butthurt over Snowden/Syria and Ukraine respectively?

And just to throw it out there: Qatar may have the same level of hatred toward the gay community as Russia does at the moment (which makes it boycott worthy) but it appears that Qatar is ahead of schedule and under budget for a World Cup that is 8 years from now.

not sure how thats a “may have” and not a hell of a lot worse, thanks for proving that one. I’m not saying its not happening, should have been clearer in saying that its briefly mentioned in the media and then left alone. surely these causes should be championed side by side. 2 birds with one stone.

I know its not what you meant but since you phrased it in that way, its ok to be outright homophobic as long as you’re under budget?

But in serious criticism of their world cup, if it is moved to winter, which is under serious consideration, then most of the world is fucked, not only in terms of legal contracts for players, but in terms of the money that would be lost by reorganising regular seasons.

Whilst Englands Olympics has been my favourite so far, it too had its fair share of controversy.

On a side side note, how well did the boycott of China go? After all they are monsters in our eyes, and are oppressing an entire nation (tibet) or is that not beneficial for the global world economy.

“Hey you from one of the greatest cities of the world! One of only two world Global cities ([en.wikipedia.org]), the place where over 300 languages are spoken and economic system drives Europe and your metropolitan GDP is one of the 5 best in the world!”

Thank you Vladimir for your response. I did read it. I also clicked on your Wikipedia entry you linked. I WAS SO TOTALLY WRONG. YOU HAVE GOOGLE.

As for the LGBT rights you suggested I am OK with (which, if you had read MY response you would note I am not) my statement was referring to the fuck-ups IN ADDITION TO the horrendous human rights records. The “may have” was misplaced sarcasm. How can Russia compete with a country that is actually trying to develop a scanner that detects homosexuality? Russia is an amateur in the gay-bashing Olympics.

The Beijing boycott went terrible. As will any boycott of these Olympics. The London Olympics were, of course, steeped in controversy. As are any global events. Boycotts really only work on the micro level. Boycotting restaurants for their service policy to Muslims, or something like that. Macro boycotts are inept and clumsy. Most humans will not know there is a boycott. Most humans will not care.

Personally, your insult to London was well placed. Is “Londoner” and insult to England or western culture? Because “Ruskie” is directly related to Russians. I sat at my laptop for a little over 4 hours thinking: “What do I do now? How will I ever live after being called a Londoner?”

Firstly londoner wasn’t really an insult. I am a Londoner myself, don’t get so butt hurt. I like how you are getting all righteous about Sochi’s scandals, but are pretty quick to be racist and derogatory. Look I get the blue collar bostonian in you is coming out thick, I just hope you don’t beat your wife or kids.

You should think twice about your username, Crystal palace is a shite team from London.

@VladimirA ….sorry you don’t get Keith’s satirical form of comedy. One of the Pussy Riot girls was getting quite sarcastic on Colbert the other night so I think there are at least some Russians that get it.

For the record, most americans don’t think Snowden is traitor, he is a whistle-blower.
Most americans are not anti-gay and would not take to beating them senseless in the streets. This may just be conjecture on my part but I don’t think that even the most conservative, right wing, anti-gay mayor of any city in the US would make a public statement that there are no gays living in his city.

Also, as said by others-most americans really don’t give a shit about soccer.

Also, when was I racist and derogatory? Is Russian a race now? If anything it’s jingoistic for me to imply that these Olympics are a huge fuck-up based on the nationality of the people supposedly running it.

HOW DARE YOU CALL ME BLUE COLLAR AND SUGGEST THAT I WORK HARD!

P.S. This is a blog devoted to television. My screen name refers to the television show Breaking Bad, where Hank refers to a motel that is frequented by meth users and prostitutes as The Crystal Palace.

Thing is this is one small town on the edge of the Black Sea. And it cost them more than any other Olympic Games ever to put it together.

What happens in 2018 when the World Cup descends across the country and you have as big a crowd battling to get from Moscow to St Petersburg? To shiny new stadia in Kazan or Perm or Novgorod? Infrastructure, transportation and security issues triple across such mileage.

My only problem with Olbermann is that he likes to repeat stuff that is worthless. The “bin provided” line he kept using is the perfect example. It kind of made his argument go from a serious commentary to a quasi comedic commentary, thus defeating the reason for his dialog in the first place. It wasnt necessary.

It’s funny how sensitive Russians are to legitimate criticism, “oh, Olympics corrupt you say, well EDWARD SNOWDEN”. On my side of the prime meridian (or whatever) multiple criticisms can exist without negating each other. In case the crybaby Russia apologists have missed it, American news spends the vast majority of its time discussing and criticizing American problems, this website certainly being no exception.

Russia is rightly getting called out mostly because of the policies of one man who has done quite a lot to usurp the free press, free government, and individual rights of millions of Russians while encouraging corruption on a massive scale. The Olympics and World Cup always highlight issues like this, especially the status of the host city. Hell, I’ve read several articles in this vein regarding the Superbowl and New Jersey. These issues are almost always brought up before a major event like Sochi, and the event usually goes well. But quit crying and deflecting, if Sochi goes wrong you won’t be able to blame “hypocritical” Americans for it.

Russia, you look great on the world stage! Beating people over sexual orientation, theft,ignorance,greed and stupidity. keep on giving the rest of the world something to laugh at and not model themselves after. PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@TheRealMSol
Because of the blogosphere, anyone with an opinion ( and an asshole) can be called a journalist. My question is, is there any such thing as a journalist with an opinion in Russia? If you have nothing but awful things to say about US journalists, I would suggest that your world is too small. Try listening to a public radio station someday or someone like Richard Engel. You may actually learn something from being stuck in a room with them.

@TheRealMSol ….If you are “not sure what points I’m trying to make” with my previous post, then you truly have no comprehension for what you read. It was pretty straightforward. I once heard a great quote, something like-“your mind is like a parachute, it doesn’t work properly unless it is open” I don’t know which public radio station you worked for but you couldn’t be more wrong about not learning anything but “typical drivel” There is a wealth of information on a variety of topics that you can’t get anywhere on TV, so yeah, I guess you can say I have a weird hard on for public radio. UPROXX is pretty cool too but it doesn’t get my rocks up as much.

@TheRealMSol ….How sweet of you to send hugs and kisses my way.Now I’m beginning to think you have some sort of weird hard-on for me! Right back at you love ! Anyway, I am neither a student or professor. I am just a whiskery growth on the face of a legendary former pro QB.
Sorry if I came as sounding self-righteous as that was not my intent. I was only responding to your original comment about how you had nothing but awful things to say about journalists. I do think most of them are pretty horrible but not all.
For the record, I’ve never seen a single episode of Bill Maher but I do read the HuffPo from time to time and I watch Chris Hayes once in a while so you can deride me for that if you like. I actually do not agree with everything he says but at least I get to hear intelligent and healthy debate. It’s the same reason I listen to NPR. You still have not revealed which public radio station you worked for and in what capacity. I wonder what experience you had that has made you so dismissive of anything that is broadcast there? Is it really all just drivel to you? So sad if you feel that way.
Anyway, Happy VD lover…have a Dos XX on me!!